Events - Guidance on Accessibility
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Accessibility
There is a legal requirement to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to access meetings and events.
Swale Borough Council aims to ensure that meetings and events are accessible to everyone. The purpose of the guidance is to ensure that people who have specific needs can attend and fully participate in events and meetings.
There is a legal requirement to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to access meetings and events. It is advisable to make a site-visit to ensure the venue meets the recommendations in this guidance. You may find our Event Accessibility Checklist useful when assessing the suitability of venues for your event. It helps you to check that the venue meets the minimum requirement for accessibility and can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Catering:
If catering is being arranged, establish whether anyone requires any of the following and whether the catering company is prepared/able to offer it:
- Vegetarian,
- Vegan,
- Kosher,
- Halal
- or anything else.
Please note: Vegetarian, vegan, meat and fish must be served on separate plates and caterers should be asked whether they can do this.
Plates should be labelled and meat and non meat dishes placed on separate tables also be aware of possible food allergies and label food accordingly.
Remember that many Muslim adults fast during Ramadan.
Timing of events:
Give people at least a couple of weeks notice of the event. This assists people with learning difficulties, older people, disabled people and many with caring responsibilities to make any necessary arrangements to allow them to attend. It will allow you time to produce information for your event in other formats and to book interpreters, if requested.
Keep to the publicised start and finish times. People with childcare responsibilities will find it difficult to start before 10.00am and will normally need to leave around 3.00pm. Some disabled people may require longer periods of time to access the event venue.
Check that the event does not clash with a major faith day or significant cultural festival. For more information see: Interfaith Calendar which shows religious festivals and celebrations of eight world faiths.
You may wish to consider a Quiet Room for people who may wish to pray if appropriate.
Consider a crèche:
For large public events it is good practice to run a crèche. This will enable some parents and carers to participate and positively encourage their participation.
For advice on how to plan a crèche, contact a suitable organisation such as the Kent Children's Information Line (part of KCC Children and Families Directorate) on 08000 323230. There are national, local authority and health and safety requirements that will have to be met.
More Information
Useful web pages
- Events - Toolkit
- Events - Risk Assessment
- Events - Affecting the Highway
- Events - and the Police
- Events - Licensing Requirements
